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The United States has approved the potential sale of support services and associated equipment for Apache helicopters to India, valued at an estimated USD 198 million, according to the US Department of State.

 

In a separate clearance, the US also approved a possible sale of sustainment support for M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers worth around USD 230 million.

The principal contractors for the Apache support package will be the Boeing Company and Lockheed Martin, while BAE Systems, headquartered in Cumbria, United Kingdom, will be the lead contractor for the howitzer sustainment support.

 

According to the State Department, India has requested long-term sustainment support for AH-64E Apache helicopters, including US government and contractor engineering and technical assistance, logistics and maintenance support, technical documentation, training services, and other related programme support.

 

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India has also sought continued sustainment assistance for the M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers, including spare parts, ancillary systems, repair and return services, training, technical support, field service representatives, depot-level maintenance capability, and other logistics-related elements, the statement said.

 

The proposed deals will be carried out under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. The State Department said the approvals are consistent with US foreign policy and national security interests, aimed at strengthening defence cooperation with India.

 

It added that the agreements would enhance the capabilities of a key defence partner that plays an important role in ensuring stability, peace, and economic growth across the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions. The proposed support packages are expected to bolster India’s ability to respond to present and future security challenges, reinforce homeland defence, and deter regional threats.

 

The US further noted that India will have no difficulty absorbing the equipment and services into its armed forces, and that the transactions will not alter the regional military balance. It also stated that the proposed sales would not have any adverse impact on US defence readiness.